The latest update follows the G-1 issued by the FAA last February. The P-1 Issue Paper outlines the conditions that ZeroAvia’s technology must meet, showing that the regulator and company are aligned on the certification pathway.
Once the FAA publishes the Special Conditions in the Federal Register, the means of compliance will be determined in the next stage of certification, ahead of market entry.
“Getting this electric propulsion system certified and into service will be a monumental leap in the next great transition in aviation,” explained Val Miftakhov, Founder & CEO, ZeroAvia.
“Electrifying aviation will deliver a step change in efficiency plus steep reductions in operating costs by overcoming volatile fuel prices and the costly maintenance of complex, high-intensity combustion engines,” the CEO also claimed.
The 600kW system is a core component of the ZA600 hydrogen-electric powertrain ZeroAvia will use for 9-20 seat aircraft.
The company has already tested a prototype of the ZA600 engine onboard a Dornier 228 aircraft at its UK base.
Additionally, ZeroAvia is pursuing certification with the FAA and UK Civil Aviation Authority for the ZA600.
While several companies are developing hydrogen powertrains, none have reached commercial success.
Instead, aviation players are beginning to prioritise sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), which benefit from drop-in compatibility and regional mandates.
Hydrogen aviation’s outlook: a long runway to commercial viability
There’s been a lot of noise surrounding hydrogen aviation recently. Not the excitement heard in the early 2020s, but instead increasingly loud questions about the energy carrier’s future in flight.
While the collapse of US aviator Universal Hydrogen in July 2024 and the insolvency of German start-up Apus Zero Emission in March raised eyebrows, it was Airbus’ move to halt its commercial hydrogen aircraft plans that fuelled broader conversations.
In February, the French aerospace firm said it would delay developing commercial hydrogen-powered aircraft beyond its original target of 2035 – with no new date officially revealed.
The company announced its ZEROe hydrogen programme in 2020 when it revealed three concept designs. It also said it would test different types of hydrogen propulsion and fuel storage systems on a modified A-380.
Airbus has also been a key investor in Universal Hydrogen and ZeroAvia.
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